Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Cruise ships have dramatically increased in size over recent decades, with new vessels now exceeding 200,000 tons and accommodating nearly 7,000 passengers.
Major cruise lines are launching ever-larger ships to meet growing demand for more onboard amenities, such as multiple pools, water parks, restaurants and entertainment venues.
The trend toward bigger ships is driven by customer desire for more options and experiences, as well as operational efficiencies for cruise lines.
However, there are growing logistical challenges, including port infrastructure limitations and bridge clearances, that may restrict future ship size increases.

What to consider

The largest ships can only access a limited number of ports due to their height, draft and maneuvering requirements.
Port infrastructure upgrades are ongoing but not universal, which can impact itinerary flexibility for mega-ships.
Ships in the 100,000- to 140,000-ton range are considered a practical balance between onboard features and global port access.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed look at how specific ship features and industry trends are shaping the future of cruising and what it's like to experience the largest vessels afloat.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

At 171,598 tons, the newest vessel from fast-growing MSC Cruises is of a size that would have been unthinkable just a couple decades ago.

Unveiled last month at a gala ceremony in Southampton, England, the 19-deck-high giant of the seas, dubbed MSC Bellissima, is nearly three times larger than the biggest ship the line had in service as recently as 2005. It’s so big it has its own indoor mall, called the Galleria, lined with restaurants, bars and shops. Its top deck has three different pool areas plus a separate, sprawling Aquapark with multiple water slides. It can hold more than 5,000 passengers.

MSC Bellissima. (Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises)

Still, it isn’t even the biggest ship MSC Cruises is launching this year. In just seven months, the Europe-based line will roll out the 181,000-ton MSC Grandiosa. Meaning “grand” in Italian (the native language of the line’s founders), it’ll stretch 53 feet longer than the 1,033-foot-long MSC Bellissima and hold more than 6,000 passengers. It’ll be followed in 2022 by even bigger MSC Cruises vessels measuring more than 205,000 tons and with room for nearly 7,000 passengers.

MSC Cruises, which as recently as 2008 didn’t have a single ship over 100,000 tons, is in the midst of its go-bigger-or-go-home moment. And it’s not alone. Three other major brands — Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises — are hitting the supersize button as the big-ship boom of recent years enters a new phase.

Even longtime industry executives are amazed at the growth.

The Aquapark atop the MSC Bellissima. (Photo courtesy of MSC Cruises)

“I’ve been immersed in the business my whole life, and I still go, ‘Oh my god’ when I see these new ships,” said Rick Sasso, the 69-year-old chairman of MSC Cruises USA, the North American arm of MSC Cruises.

The former CEO of Celebrity Cruises and one-time Costa Cruises executive told The Points Guy he couldn’t have imagined ships would get this big when he got into the business 47 years ago. Back then, he said, the typical cruise ship size was about 20,000 tons. That's about a tenth the size of today’s giants.

“It blows my mind,” he said.

The Sea Princess of Princess Cruises entering Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. (Photo via Getty Images)

It's a shift that may have been inevitable, at least once cruising began taking off in the 1980s and 1990s. With bookings for cruise vacations growing at double-digit rates, the industry needed a lot more capacity, which bigger ships supplied. Bigger ships also turned out to be a lot more efficient to operate.

As the 1990s progressed, major lines such as Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean began going ever bigger with new ships, leap-frogging each other in a race for the top spot that saw the world’s biggest cruise vessels jump from around 77,000 tons to 137,000 tons in just a few short years. Then things really took off in the 2000s, with vessels surpassing 150,000 tons and then 225,000 tons.

The Diamond Princess, a Princess Cruise line ship, docked in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo via Shutterstock)

“The cruise lines realized there was a lot more profit in the bigger ships,” said Stewart Chiron, a pioneer of national cruise selling who now runs CruiseGuy.com. “The cost to feed the passengers went down, the cost to house the passengers went down.”

But it wasn’t just dollar signs driving the trend. In fact, better economies of scale weren’t even the main factor pushing the relentless rise in ship size, Chiron said. More than anything, it was demand from customers. As Chiron and others in the industry note, bigger vessels allowed for a lot more on-board features, and it turned out that’s exactly what customers wanted.

“Guests want more choice. They want more options,” said Laura Hodges-Bethge, Royal Caribbean’s vice president for product development. “And for that, you need a bigger platform.”

(Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

Hodges-Bethge says Royal Caribbean is relentless about consumer research, and the data is clear: Would-be cruisers want more restaurants, more bars, more entertainment and more activities.

In recent years, Royal Caribbean has tapped into such demands like no other line — and been richly rewarded for it. In 2009, Royal Caribbean unveiled the 225,282-ton Oasis of the Seas, which at the time was 46% bigger than the next-biggest cruise vessel. It was a huge hit with consumers, drawing in a new, mega-resort-loving crowd to cruising and selling for premium prices. The line has since rolled out three additional ships in the series, each a little bigger than the last.

Called the Oasis Class, these vessels include the recently-unveiled, 228,081-ton Symphony of the Seas — the world’s biggest cruise ship. Soaring 18 decks high and nearly 1,200 feet long, it’s home to a dizzying array of pools, water slides, rock climbing walls, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and an adults-only solarium. And that’s just on its top decks. The inside of the ship features dozens of restaurants and bars, Broadway-quality shows, a comedy club, a mall-like promenade and, yes, even an ice-skating rink. There’s also a tree-lined outdoor area called Central Park that’s lined with additional restaurants, bars and shops.

Hodges-Bethge noted that, when planning the Oasis Class, Royal Caribbean never set out to build the world’s biggest ships. Bigger is just “what happens once you develop and provide all the features and benefits [that] guests want.”

It’s a formula that other lines now are copying. The big news at Carnival has been the development of Mardi Gras, a 180,000-ton floating mega-resort that will be around 35% bigger than the biggest ships now in the Carnival fleet. It’ll debut in 2020.

(Rendering of Carnival Mardi Gras courtesy of Carnival)

And a new flagship for Costa Cruises arriving later this year, Costa Smeralda, will be nearly 36% bigger than its nearest sibling. P&O Cruises is going about 28% bigger with its next vessel, Iona.

This latest phase of the big-ship boom isn’t just playing out among the big-ship operators. Even lines such as Seabourn that are known for relatively small vessels are going bigger. While still a fraction of the size of an Oasis Class ship at 40,350 tons, the two newest Seabourn vessels are about 25% bigger than anything the line ever has operated before.

So, will the trend continue? And just how big can cruise ships get?

A Royal Caribbean executive recently hinted to The Points Guy that two ships it currently has on order will be at least a tad bigger than the current size leader. But probably only by a small margin. And there are factors that may soon reign in the relentless growth in ship size.

The world’s biggest ships can just barely fit under key bridges and other obstacles around the world. (Photo by Chuttersnap via Unsplash)

For starters, the world’s biggest ships have ballooned to a size where they can just barely fit under key bridges around the world.

Royal Caribbean’s 236-foot-tall Oasis of the Seas, for instance, can squeak under Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge with just half a foot to spare — and that’s after lowering a retractable funnel. The bridge is at a bottleneck into much of the Baltic Sea, which means that any vessel taller than Oasis of the Seas would be forever blocked from cruising in the Baltic.

Ships much taller than Oasis of the Seas would also be blocked from visiting New York City, one of the world’s most important cruise ports. Oasis of the Seas has about 15 feet to spare with its funnel retracted when it passes under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the entrance to New York Harbor.

Other factors that cruise lines must consider when contemplating bigger ships include the depth of the water and length of the piers at key ports as well as the size of turning basins (the space allocated at a port for ships to maneuver.) As ships get longer and sit deeper in the water, the number of off-limits ports increases.

TPG's own Summer Hull boarding a Disney Cruise with her family in March 2019. (Photo courtesy of Summer Hull / The Points Guy)

That said, many of the important cruise ports around the world have been making changes to accommodate these massive vessels, noted Greg Purdy, Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president for marine operations.

In building bigger, “You may limit the number of ports you currently can go to, but there is always development (at the ports),” he explained.

Another important factor in the decision to go bigger with ships is the state of the tourist infrastructure available in the “home ports” where the vessels would be based. Such things as airlift capacity and even bus capacity for transfers is a consideration.

“There are only a few ports in the world that can handle the Oasis Class,” said Chiron, who suggests the move to bigger ships has begun to play out. “It just doesn’t seem that going much above 200,000 [tons] is really optimal because of the limitations.”

Chiron sees ships in the 100,000- to 140,000-ton range as having really been the sweet spot for the industry. They’re big enough to have a lot of on-board options but not so big that they’re limited in where they can go, he said.

Ships bearing more weight and height may not be able to enter just any port in the world. (Photo courtesy of Carnival)

“They’re able to pack a lot into the ships (of that size), but they still can visit pretty much anywhere in the world,” Chiron said.

But he admits there’s nothing quite like being on one of the giant Oasis Class ships.

“I don’t care what ships you’ve sailed on or what hotels you’ve stayed in. Until you have sailed on an Oasis Class ship, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” he said.

“To see the four-story Royal Promenade going the length of the ship’s interior, the Central Park, the Boardwalk, the pools, the zip line, the merry-go-round and the Aqua Theater at the back ... It’s just astounding,” he said. “It never gets old.”

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American Express® Gold Card

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Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.